Grain-sorting device



' l 1 622,386 March 29, 1927. L. AL" LADO l GRAIN SORTING DEVICE FiledAug. 2. 1925 A4 Sheets-Sheb 41 March 29, 1927.

. L. L. LADD GRAIN SORTING DEVICE umed Aug. 2. 192s 4 Sheets-Shadi. 2

Mah 29 1927 L. L. LADD Gan-N soRTING DEvIcE Filed Aug. 2. 1923l 4sheets-Sheet s f f5? [esfergl ddd. @f @MW V@ March 29,- 1927.

L. L. LADD GRAIN soRTiNG DEvIcE Filed Aug. 2. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4LESTER L. LADD, F LOCKORT, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-SORTING DE'VCE.

`Application filed August 2, 1923.

lighter' grains from eachother.

In connection with milling, it is often desirable to separate lightergrains or particles from heavier grains or particles. rllhis isparticularly desirable in connection ,with the milling of grains thatare hulled in the process of milling, in order to insure the separationof any grains still having hulls thereon from the hulled grain, as thepresence of hulls even in small quantities will interfere seriously withthe quality of the produc-t produced. This is particularly true in themaking of rolled oats in which the hulls, if any are present, causeunpalatablev particles to be present in the' linished product.

Apparatus hasbeen in use for accomplishing this separation which is verybulky, this apparatus operating on the principle of a shaker having areciprocating movement which, due to the construction of the passagesfor the grain on the shaker table, causes the grains with the hullsthereon to travel in one direct-ion and the hulled grains in theopposite direction. This apparatus, while fairly successful, is verybulky and causes a very great amount of vibration in the building inwhich it is located. rEhe capacity is small and the separation is notabsolutely perfect at all times.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a grain grading apparatuswhich will separate the grain into agroup of lighter particles and agroup of heavier particles which is compact and highly el'licient andwhich causes a complete separation of the particles or grains into thegroups.

lt is the further purpose of the invention to provide a device of theabove mentioned character which is of large capacity for the sizethereof and which is so constructed that the separating elements can bearranged in stark formation or in tiers. l

lt is still a further purpose of the invention to provide a device ofthe above mentioned character in which only a small amount of movementofthe separating elements is necessary to separate the Orain into thegroups mentioned above and in which the vibration, caused to thebuilding by the operation of the device, is greatly reduced. Theseparating elements preferably have a rapid rotary motion of-smallradius and Serial No. 655,255.

these are inclined preferably in vtwo diiferi ent directions although itmay be only necessary to incline the same in one direction. 'I he grainis preferably fed on the elements at one end thereof and travels, due tothe construction of the elements and ldue to the motion thereof, instreams which gradually separate into two well defined streams at theopposite end of said device from which the grain is fed on the same, oneof the streams being made up of the heavier particles or grains and theother of the lighter particles or grains.

llt is still a further purpose-of the invention to provide la graingrading apparatus that is made up of separating elements having a; rapidrotary motion of small radius, which elements are provided with zig zagshoulders thereon so arranged as to tend to move the grain engaging saidshoulders toward one corner of the device, due to the rotation thereof,said element being inclined so that the particles or grains that do notengage the shoulders will move toward the other corner of said device atthe end thereof, opposite the end from which the grain is fed on theseparating device.

lt is anothery purpose of the invention to provide means for adjustingthe separation on the separating elements and means for receiving theseparated particles or grains, which is pro vided with means foradjusting the port-ions of the separating elements from which particlesare discharged into said receiving devices. v

Slug-v Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription of the accompanying drawings proceeds. ever, li desire tohave it distinctly understood that l do not intend to limit myself tothe exact details shown or described, but that l intend to include aspart of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of partsas would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall withinthe scope of the claims.

ln the drawings: y Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved grainsorting machine, a portion thereof be* ing broken away to more clearlyshow the discharge end of the machine;

How

F ig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly i broken away, as viewed fromthe plane 2 2 of Fig. l, portions thereof being in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine `ing position by means of thebolts 22.

partly in section, als viewed from the grain receiving end thereof;

Fig. a is a fragmentary end elevation of the opposite end of themachine; p

Fig. is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the separatingelements; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Referring in det-ail to the drawings, the machine comprises a base 10upon which are mounted the vertically extending members 11 of themachine framework. The members 11 are connected together at the upperends thereof by means of the longitudinally extending frame members 12and the transversely extending,` end members 13 of the framework.Extending between the lengt tudinally extending members 12, are thecross members 1a `upon which mounted the 'motor 15 which .is providedwith a pulley 16 over which the belt 17 operates. Mounted on saidlongitudinally extending; members 12, are the castings 18 which are madein the form of brackets,- said brackets 18 being secured in any suitablemanner to the member 12 and each having.T an upwardly ertendingflange 19and a clamping' member 20 which clamps the roc s 21 thereto,saidclamping member 20 being,l held in clamp# The rods 21, as will beseen from Figs. 2, 8 and Ll, are arranged in pairs and depend from thebrackets 18, there being four ot' said brackets. Clamped to the lowerendsof said rods 21 are the longitudinally extending` members 23 of theframework which will be described in detail below. Said members 23 areprovided with wings 2li extendinglaterally therefrom', said wings being;provided with socket portions 25 for receiving thc rods 21.Cofoperating; with said wings 24 are the clamping members 26 which areprovided with similar socket portions 27. The clamping members 2G areclamped to the wings 24 by means of Vthe bolts 28. The wings 2-l arereinforced by means of the reinforcing members 29. The framework, ofwhich the members 23 are a part, further comprises a cross member El()which is provided with a pair of vertically extending end `portions 31that are bolted by means of the bolts 32 to said members 23substantially midway thereof. It will be noted that the framework,comprising the members 23 and 31, is hung` from the rods 21 which areresilient, thus permitting oit a certain amount of movement of saidfrailiiework, comprising` members 23 and 31, relative to the mainframework of the machine.

The transverse member BO is provided with a reinforcing1 web 33 which isformed into a bracket member 34 having a bearing,-` 35 serving as abearing for the shafts 36 carrythe ends thereof, providing an uppertransverse member 38 and a lower transverse member S9. The member 38 isprovided with a bearing' 40 and the member 39 with a bearing 41 througghwhich the ends of the shaft 4t2, carrying the flanged pulley 43, eXtend. Operating' over the pulley 16 of the motor 15 and over the pulleys87 and L13, is the belt 17 which accordingly drives the pulley i3 fromsaid motor 15, and as the motor operates at a very high speed, the

pulley 43 will rotate rapidly. `Mounted on the shaft 42, to rotatetherewith, is themember lll which is provided with a counterweight oroverbalancing weight 45 madein the form of a segment, `as clearly shownin Fig. 2. lt will be seen that as the pulley 43 rotates the shaft 42rapidly and the weight 45 revolves with said shaft, the frameworksuspended from the rods 21 will be given a rotary movement which issubstantially that of a circular pendulum motion of very small radius,this being' `due to the action ot the centrifugal force produced by therotation of the weight Al5 about the airis of the shaft ft2, the rods21, being resilient, `permit a certain amount of swinging of theframework out of its normal position, due to the action of said rotatingweighted member.

Mounted between the side members 23 are the vertically extending,rpartitioiisor side walls ili6 and mounted between said side walls 46 arethe shelves il?, said shelves a7, as'will be clear from Fig. 3, being`inclined from one of the side walls 4,6 to the `other side wall 4:6.Said shelves l-T may be also inclined somewhat lengthwise thereof, theinclination lengthwise of the machine, if any. thereof being);dependentupon the speed with which the grain should travel toward thedischarge ond of the apparatus to ,act the desired results. rl`heshelfslilre n'ieinoers 457 are shown more iii detail in Figi'. 5, saidmembers beine' provided with a surface having nig-Zap; shoulders`thereon coiiiprising` the short wall portions lS-B, exteiulingi` at anoblique anale to the transverse of said meinber 4T, and the long wallportions 49, extending` at` an oblique angrle to the length of themember e7. The all` portions 4.18 and 49 alternate lengthwise of themember 47 to provide a. Zipgezap; shoulder thereon, comprising* shortobliqucly extending; porn tions and lone; obliouely extending; portionsvliicli alternate with eachother. From the shoulders alli and 4:9, `thesurface 50 of the member l? is inclined downwardly to the next Zig-Zag`.shoulder formation which is the same as the one just described. Theentire surface of the lplateis made up `of the inclined upper faces 50and the .obliquely extending' shoulders 4:8 and 4-9, thus forming aplurality of :iig-Zag oblupiely extendme` shoulders arranged insubstantially parallel relationship to each other.

Mounted between the longitudinally ex# tending members 12, is a feedingdevice 5l which is of any well known type and which is driven from thepulley 52 mounted on the shaftA 53 through the gears 54 and Said feedingdevice 5l feeds grain, upon rotation of the pulley 52, into the taperingspouts 56 which open into the downwardly inclined spouts 57 opening intothe feed boxes 58, 59 and 60 respectively, the feed box 58 beingprovided on the upper shelf 47, the feed box 59 on the intermediateshelf 47 and the feed box 60 on the lower shelf 47. it is understoodthat any number of feed spouts 57 and shelves 47 that may be desired canbe provided by merely duplicating the parts shown. The member 58 isprovided with side walls 6l, and rear walls 62 and is open on the othersidethereof and on the top thereof, thus providing an open ended, opentopped receptacle opening toward the upper shelf-li te member 47. Thebox 59 is similarly constructed as will be clearly seeen from Figs. iland 4 and feeds i onto the intermediate shelf 47 from the` open endthereof, whie the boX 60 feeds onto the bottom shelf 47 in a similarmanner and is similarly constructed. lt is, of course, understood thatthe boxes 58, 59 and 60 move with the shelves 47 and the frame mountedon the rods 21, while the feed spouts 57 are stationary. However, therotary movement of the movable frame and the parts carried thereby is ofsuch small radius that by providing an open top in the receptacle,sutlicient play is allowed for movement of the box-like members relativeto the spouts without the spouts interfering in any way with theoperation of the device. The direction of rotation and the radius of thepath o'f rotation is indicated by the curved arrow 63 in Fig. 6, and theradius of curvature of the arrow 63 is substantially the radius of therotary pendulum motion of said plates 47. While the plates 47 nave sucha pendulum motion, yet this motion is substantialyin a plane, due to thefact that the radius of thel movementfis very small and that the largeshelf-like members are mounted on rods of substantially fixed length. Itwill be noted, upon reference to Figs. 2, and 6. that if a particle ofgrain 64 moves onto any one of the members 47 and engages with theshoulders 48 and 49` the rotary oscillating movement of the shelf-likemember 47 wil` cause the shoulders 48 and 49 to engage with the .Qrain64 to move the same toward the left in Fig. l and toward the left andtop in Fig. 2. toward the right in Fig. 3 and toward the left in Fig. 4.That is. the movement will be toward the higher sides of the plates orVshelves 47 and toward the discharge end of said plates or shelves 47,the resultant movement being substantially on a diagonal, as

Only three shelves are shown butk indicatedby the arrow 65 in Fig. 5. Inother words, the grain 64, engaged bythe shoulders 48 and 49 of theplates, due to the rotative movement of said plates or shelves, willcause a movement of the grains 64 in a general direction toward thecorner 66 of the shelves 47, as indicated clearly in Fig. 2. lf thefeeding boxesS, 59 and 60 are lilled with a mixture of grain comprisingheavier and lighter grains or particles, the heavier grains or particleswill settle to the bottom of the mass oni the oscilfating plates orshelves 47 and only the heavier particles will engage with ,-theshoulders 48 and 49 toward the higher side of the shelves, while thelighter particles or grains will float on top of the mixture, and due tothe inclination of the shelves or plates47 down, wardly toward the sidemember 46, shown toward the left in Fig. 3, toward the right in Fig. 4and toward the bottom in Fig. 2, they will be gradually carried towardthe corner at the, discharge end of the shelves 47 opposite the corner66, the shoulders 4S aiding in the movement of the lighter particlestoward the discharge end of the shelf and the inclination of the members47V also aiding in suchmovement if this is necessary; Said lightergrains or particles are indicated by the numeral 67 in Fig. 2 and itwill be seen that the resultant action of the inclination andoscillation of the shelves 47 is that the heavier particles or grains 64will flow in a stream toward the corner 66 andthe lighter partic`es orgrains 67 will iiow in a similar stream toward the opposite corner, atthe discharge end of the device, from thev corner G6, thus entirelyseparating the particles or grains 64 from the grains or particles 67,there being a space 68 devoid of any grains or particles between thestreams of particles (34 and 67, the space gradually widening towardthedischarge end of the machine as shown in Fig. 2. It is well known thathul ed grains are heavier than unhulled grains and, accordingly, the machine can be used for thoroughly separating` hulled from unhulled oats,for example, the `grains G4 representing the hulled oats and the grains67 representing the unhu`led or lighter oats. Also, the 'machine can lieused at the same time for separatingl any chalf or other particles thatmay be present in the grain as these particles will flow along with theparticles 67 having the hulls thereon.

' A transverse member G9 is provided between the side walls 23 at thedischarge end of the device and on said'member G9 vis mounted a pair ofbrackets 7() and 7l, The bracket 70 supports the hopper 72 and thebracket 7l supports the hopper 78. Said hoppers 72 and 7 3 are arrangedside by side and have inclined side walls, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.Below said hoppers 72 and 7 3 are provided hoppers 74 and 75 which arelill ico

mounted in any suitable manner on thebase ot the machine and which formthe receiving end ot ducts or spouts leading to any suitable containerorreceptacle for the separated grain or to any suitable machines foroperating on the separated grain. 'Ihe member' 69 also has a bracket 7Gthereon which is provided with a boss 77 for receiving the shaft 78 uponwhich is Vmounted the tubular member1 79 having a vane 80 extendingoutwardly therefrom, the member 79 being tree to rotate on the shatt 78.Mounted on the out-cr end of the shaft 7S and clamped in positionthereon, by means of the nut 81, is an arm 82 having a segment 83 on theouter end thereon, said segment 83 being Vprovided with a segmental slot84 through which the pin 85 on the vane 8O cX- tends, `said pin beingthreaded and being provided with a wing nut 86 on the end thereof. Thevane 80 is located below and extends beyond the ends ol Vthe shelf-likemembers 47 so that the grain falling off of said shelves at thedischarge end thereo't will fall either on one side or the other side ofsaid vane. As the relative proportion of grain of the tivo differentcharacters will vary in accordance with the kind ot grain acted upon,and the adjustment ot the machine, it is necessary to sometimes vary thcangle of the member 80 to vary the proportions of Vthe shelves 47 thatlie to the right and left thereon, viewed from Fig. il. Thus, of thehulled grain spreads over a larger area, it is necessary to move thevane 80 further toward the right than the position shown infFig. Il,whereas, it the proportion of hulled grain at the discharge end ofthedevice is such that it spreads over a lesser area than that shown, thevane 8O can be raised to a. position such that a small portion ot thewidth ot the shelves l? will discharge grain to the le'tt of said vane.The vane thus serves to guide the grain into the proper hopper 72 or 73as the case may be.

The operation of the device, it is believed, will be understood from thedescription given above. However, the same will be briefly reviewedhere. Grain is .ted from the 'feeding device 5l through the spouts 57into the boxes 58, 59 and 60. It is then shaken with a rotaryoscillating motion upon the shelves 4T and, due to the arrangement ofthe zig-Zag shoulders on the shelflike members 1l?, the heavier grainswill travel diagonally toward the corner (3G ol' each of the shelves 4Tand the lighter' particles, or those having a lesser density, willltravel diagonally toward the corners opposite the corners 66 at thedischarge end of the device, the grains traveling toward the corners 66emptyingv into the hopper' 73 and` from said hopper 73 into the hopperor spout 75 and those traveling toward the lower corners at thedischarge end ot `the device will enter the hopper or spout 'T2 and fromsaid spout or hopperTQ will drop into the hopper or spout 74 thusseparating the extending portions 89 being secured at the op osite ends`thereoil to the uprights 11.

T provided for the bearings 42, the lubrication devices 91 shown in Fig.3 being one form of lubricating means `that may be used:

Havingthus described my invention, what I desire to claim andsecure byU. S. Letters Patent is: i

l. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member means forfeeding par ticles to be sorted thereon at one end thereot`,'means t'oroscillating said member, and formations on said shelf-like member facingonly toward one side and the opposite end thereot` for moving theparticles engaging said formations toward one sideand the opposite endof said shelf-like member.

9.. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adaptedto receiveliarticles to be sorted. thereon, means for moving said memberwith a rotary shaking motion, and projections on said member facing onlytoward one sideand the opposite end thereof engaged by certain of saidparticles the particles engaging with any of said projections all movingin substantially the sam direction.

8. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adaptedto receive particles of dill'erent densities thereon, means forshalrine` said member, and formations on said shelf-like member withwhich the heavier ot' said particles engage to move said particles inone direction, said sheltlike member being inclined so that the lighterof said particles move over said formations in a direction at an acuteangle to that of said heavier particles upon shaking said member.

4. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adaptedto receive particles of different densities thereon, means for shakingsaid member with a rotary shaking motion of small radius of rotation,and

nto tivo well may be provided for suitable lubricatinglmeans may beformations on said shelf-like member with which the heavier of saidparticles engage to move said particles in one direction, saidshelf-like member being inclined so that 'the lighter of said particlesmove in a different direction than said heavier particles npon shakingsaid member'.

5. In a separating device, an imperforate inclined shelf-like member,zig-zag shoulders on said member facing only toward one side and one endthereof and means for shaking said member with a rotary shaking movementof small radius.

6. In a separating` device, an imperforate inclined shelf-like member,zig-zag shoulders on said member, and means for shaking said member witha rotary shaking` movement of small radius, said shoulders all facingthe higher side of said shelf-like member.

7. In a separating device, an inclined shelf-like member having aplurality of inclined faces extending lengthwise thereof, and shouldersseparating said faces, said shoulders having` alternating wallsextending at oblique angles to the longitudinal axis of said member andall facing the higher side of said shelf-like member, and means forshaking said member with a rotary shaking movement.

8. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed shelves,means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zagshoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movementto said shelves and means at-the other end of said shelves for receivingsaid grain.

9. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed shelves,means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zagshoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movementto said shelves and means at the other end of said shelves forreceiving` said grain, said means comprising` a pair of grain receivingmembers arranged side by side transversely of said shelves.

10. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposedtransversely inclined shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelvesat one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means forimparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves and means at the.otherend of said shelves for receiving said grain.

ll. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed shelves,means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof,longitudinally extending, substantially parallel zig-zag shoulders onsaid shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to saidshelves and means at the other end of said shelves for receiving saidgrain.

12. In a grain separator, a plurality of shelves at the discharge endthereof andthe heavier grains move toward the other corner of saidshelves at said discharge end.

13. In a grain separator, a plurality-of imperforate super-posedtransversely and longitudinally inclined shelves, means for feedinggrainV on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on saidshelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelvesand means at the other end of said shelves for receiving said grain.

141s. In a grain separating device, aframework, a plurality ofimperforate substantially parallel inclined superposed shelves, meansfor suspending said shelves from said framework and means for impartinga rotary shaking motion to said shelves.

l5. In a grain separating device, a framework, a plurality ofsubstantially parallel inclined superposed shelves, means for suspendingsaid shelves from said framework and means for imparting a rotaryshaking motion to said shelves, said means comprising amember mountedfor rotation on said suspending means, said member being overbalancedalways on the same side of its axis the axis of said member being fixedwith respect to said shelves.

16. In a grain separating device, a framework, al plurality ofsubstantially parallel inclined superposedy shelves, means forsuspending said shelves from said framework and means for imparting arotaryl shakingv motion to said shelves, said means comprising a membermounted for rotation about a, vertical axis on said suspending means,the center of gravity of said member being always eccentric tosaid axisthe axis of said member being fixed withv respect to said shelves.

17. In a grain separator, a plurality of superposed shelves, means forfeeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders onsaid shelves,` means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to saidshelves, means at the other end yof said shelves for receiving saidgrain, said means comprising a pair of grain receiving members arrangedside by side transversely of said shelves, and means for directing thegrain discharged from said shelves into said members. l

18. In a grain separator, a plurality 0f superposed shelves, means forfeeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag end thereof.

19. In a grain separator, a plurality of superposed shelves, means forfeeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders onsaid shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to saidShelves, means at the other -end of said shelves for receiving saidgrain, said means comprising a pair of grain receiving members arrangedside by side transversely of saidshelves, and means for directing thegrain discharged from said shelves into said members. comprising anadjustable vane between said grain receiving members.

20. In a grain separating device, a fixed framework, a suspendedframework hung from said fixed framework and movable substantially in ahorizontal plane, a plurality of super-posed parallel inclined shelveshaving shoulders thereon on said last mentioned framework and means forimparting a rotary shaking motion to said suspended framework and saidshelves, said means comprising a member rotatably mounted on saidsuspended framework and means on said fixed framework connected to saidmember for rotating it.

21. In a grain separating device, a fixed framework` a suspendedframework hung from said fixed framework and movable substantially in ahorizontal. plane. a plurality of superposed shelves on said last men-`tioned framework and means for imparting a rotary shaking motion to saidsuspended framework and said shelves said shelves being transverselyinclined and having formations on the upper faces thereof, wherebvlighter and heavier grain is moved on different diagonale towardopposite corners of said shelves.

Q2. ln a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adaptedto receive particles to be sorted thereon near one end thereof, meansfor moving said member With a rotary shaking motion, and projecneeassetions on said member facing only toward one side and the opposite endthereof engaged by certain of said particles by the action of gravity,the particles engaging with any of said projections all moving insubstantially the same direction.v

23. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member, meansfor feeding particles to be sorted on one end thereof, said member beinginclined toward the other end and one side thereof, means for shakingsaid member with a rotary movement and formations on said memberengaging the denser of said particles to move the same toward the otherside and the last mentioned end of said shelf.

24. In a device of the character di-rscribed, a shelfslike member, meansfor feeding particles to be sorted on one end thereof, said member beinginclined toward the other end and one side thereof, means for shakingsaid member with a rotary movement and formations on said memberengaging the denser of said particles to move the same toward the otherside and the lower end of said shelf.

Q15. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member, meansfor 'feeding particles to be sorted on one end thereof, said memberbeing inclined toward the other end and one side thereof, means forshaking` said member with a rotary movement and formations on saidmember' engaging the denser of said particles to move the same towardthe other side and lower end of said shelf, the transverse movementofsaid particles due to said formations being toward the higher side ofsaid shelf-like member.

Q16. In a device of the character' described, a shelf-like member, meansfor feeding' particles to be sorted on one end thereof, means for`rotatively shaking said member, said rshelf-like member being inclinedto direct particles thereon toward one corner at the other end thereofby gravity upon oscillation thereof, and formations on said shelflikemember facing only toward one side and the opposite end thereof fordirecting particles thereon toward the other corner thereof at said lastmentioned end upon oscillation thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5 day of July A.D., 1923.

LESTER L. LADD.

